“I’ve found it then,” said Jack quickly, “but it seems to be a very long way off.”
“I’m afraid you are mistaken,” said the mate, who repeated the process of sweeping the reef with his glass. “My eyes are pretty good ones, but I can make out nothing but breakers. Try again, and see if you see the place now.”
Jack had not taken his double glass—a very good one presented to him by his father—from his eyes, and a minute had not elapsed before he said—
“Yes, there it is: a dark bit in the white rollers. It’s a long way off, but I can see it quite plainly.”
“Make anything out?” cried the captain anxiously, as he watched them from the deck.
“I can’t, sir,” replied the mate, “but Mr Jack here says he can see it quite plainly.”
“Well done, young mariner,” cried the captain. “Good for the first voyage. Have another look, Bartlett, and see how far it is off.”
The mate looked again through his long glass, and Jack with his short one.
“Yes, there’s the dark spot,” said the latter. “Can’t you see it now?”
“No. Your eyes are better than mine, my lad.”